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Gordon signs 4-year deal to stay with Royals

Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / Getty

After helping the Royals to a World Series championship in 2015, his ninth season with the club, Alex Gordon decided he couldn't leave Kansas City.

On Wednesday, the 31-year-old left fielder finalized a new four-year, $72-million contract with the Royals, the team that plucked him second overall in the 2005 draft. Gordon's new deal also includes a mutual option for the 2020 campaign.

Born and raised in Nebraska, just a few hours north of Kauffman Stadium, Gordon will retain his status as the Royals' longest-tenured player after opting to remain with Kansas City - something several members of last year's championship roster decided not to do. Earlier this offseason, the Royals watched both Ben Zobrist and Johnny Cueto sign elsewhere as free agents without receiving any draft-pick compensation (neither player was eligible to receive a qualifying offer).

It seemed unlikely, frankly, that the Royals would be able to re-sign Gordon, either, as the club reportedly had "no chance" to bring him back less than two weeks ago. Gordon, however, refuted that report last week, and shortly thereafter landed a long-term deal with the annual average value - around $20 million - he was reportedly seeking.

Though Gordon appeared in just 104 games last season - his fewest since 2010 - due to a groin injury that sidelined him for much of the second half, he still posted 2.8 WAR with a 122 wRC+ and 13 homers. Since moving to left field permanently in 2011, Gordon has earned three All-Star appearances and four Gold Glove awards, while posting the ninth-most WAR in the majors (25.1).

Season WAR wRC+ HR DRS
2013 3.7 104 20 16
2014 6.6 122 19 27
2015 2.8 122 13 7

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